Gender Trainers from the Western Balkan MoDs and AFs visit the Military Observatory for Gender Equality in Spain
Photo by MoD of Spain
Photo by MoD of Spain
Within the scope of SEESAC’s Gender Equality in the Military project, a two-day study visit to the Military Observatory for Gender Equality in the Ministry of Defence of Spain was organized for eighteen Gender Trainers from the Ministries of Defence and the Armed Forces in the Western Balkans on 22 and 23 April 2015. The visit, which was supported by SEESAC was hosted by the Permanent Secretariat of Military Observatory for Gender Equality in the Ministry of Defence of Spain.
The study visit enabled Gender Trainers to learn from the Spanish model of inclusion of gender perspective in the defence polices. The visit included overview of polices and practices related to the recruitment, retention and work – life balance; internal and external mechanisms for communication in the MoD and AF; inclusion of gender in military operations from the planning to operational level and the presentation on the Spanish Dutch bilateral training initiative on gender in operations.
The study visit participants were particularly interested in learning about the working conditions and work-life balance polices, the selection criteria, and gender segregated data collection in the Spanish Armed Forces.
The network of Gender Trainers has thirty three (33) certified gender trainers in the Ministries of Defence and the Armed Forces in the Western Balkans, who work towards raising gender awareness in their respective institutions through workshops and training with the support of the project.
About THE GENDER EQUALITY IN THE MILITARY PROJECT
SEESAC's Gender Equality in the Military: Strengthening of Regional Cooperation on Gender Mainstreaming in Security Sector Reform in the Western Balkans project aims to create a more conducive environment for the advancement of women in the military in the Western Balkans. With this as its goal, SEESAC is supporting the Ministries of Defence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia in their efforts to ensure better integration, retention and professional development for women in the armed forces as well as stronger participation of women in decision-making and gender sensitive change in their organizational cultures.